04/18/24
September 03, 2008
Take your bags, sir?: Recently signed Detroit Lions running back Rudi Johnson said Wednesday that the player who was waived to make room for him on the Lions' roster -- Tatum Bell -- took his luggage from team headquarters. Bell claims it was a misunderstanding and said, "They said they got me on film taking the bags. I said, 'If you look on film, I wasn't in no hurry or nothing.' I was just going about my day."
I don't know. It sounds dumb enough to be believable. Why would Bell want someone else's underpants? I think Rudi Johnson talking about it publicly and not listening to Tatum Bell's explanation was pretty lame.
posted by bperk at 08:17 PM on September 03, 2008
Dude I've seen his clothes .......they're not that nice
posted by jknemo at 08:59 PM on September 03, 2008
"Hey, thanks a lot, Tatum!" - Victor Degrate
posted by BoKnows at 11:06 PM on September 03, 2008
Tatum used to play here in Denver and never did anything to get him in the wrong section of the newspaper. He also was on one of the local talk shows frequently and came across as a pretty plain aw-shucks guy (in a good way). I'm inclined to believe him.
posted by drumdance at 11:51 PM on September 03, 2008
Tatum used to play here in Denver and never did anything to get him in the wrong section of the newspaper. He also was on one of the local talk shows frequently and came across as a pretty plain aw-shucks guy (in a good way). I'm inclined to believe him.
So because he was on a local talk show and "came across as a pretty plain aw-shucks guy", you don't believe that he walked by and picked up Rudi Johnson's bags even though it was caught on security cameras?
posted by BornIcon at 08:09 AM on September 04, 2008
Bell admits that he took that bags, BI. He says it was a mistake. That is what drumdance believes. We make judgments about players all the time with less information than drumdance is going on.
posted by bperk at 08:25 AM on September 04, 2008
My biggest question is, why isn't anybody talking to Victor Degrate about it... Apparently he may be the guy that people need to watch from now on... If he received the bags from the female that Bell gave the bags to and then Johnson gets them back empty... Hmmmm, doesn't take rocket science to figure out who to ask...
posted by bruce2ww at 08:54 AM on September 04, 2008
Well I guess I would look at both player's bags. If Bell's bags don't look remotely similar.....Guilty..
If Bell doesn't realize the mistake quickly and return the bags with all the belongings ....Guilty
Of all the bags taken mistakenly, is it just a remarkable coincidence that the bags taken belonged to the player that replaced Bell? MMMM suppose it's possible....NOT
What happened to Bell's own bags? Did he leave his bags behind because he mistakingly took someone else's bags? if not ....Guilty
Most people who travel (like pro athletes) know what their bags look like and can distinguish them from other bags, even other similar ones pretty easily.
posted by Atheist at 12:34 PM on September 04, 2008
I swear this is gonna end up with Bell asking, "So, what was in the bag?" and Johnson saying, "Same shit I'm feeding you!" and then they both pitch a grin while the studio audience laughs; roll credits.
posted by Hugh Janus at 03:32 PM on September 04, 2008
Rudi shouldn't worry. Knowing Bell, he'll drop those bags any second.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 04:43 PM on September 04, 2008
I think a couple of you need to reread the story.
Bell was not picking up his own bags, so he probably didn't know what the bags looked like.
As Bruce points out, let's talk to Degrate, and see what he has to say.
posted by dviking at 04:54 PM on September 04, 2008
If they have Tatum Bell taking them on video, then arrest him, it happens all the time by disgruntled ex employees it's not right but what are ya gonna do
posted by jknemo at 07:52 PM on September 04, 2008
Or maybe he was just rehearsing for his new gig as Tatum Bell Skycap to the NFL
posted by jknemo at 07:53 PM on September 04, 2008
Tatum Bell is a scumbag. He was pissed because he got cut and blamed it on the guy they brought in to replace him. So as a result, he took his bags and tried to STEAL them. He would not have brought them to someone else's house unless he thought he may get caught. Rudi claims the bags were returned, without his cash and personal items inside the bags. Even if Bell didn't steal those items he is responsible for taking them and placing them with a third party. He could easily be prosecuted with it all on video. The TEAM should take a stance and have him prosecuted.
posted by JohnnyBallsack at 11:19 PM on September 04, 2008
It wouldn't be easy to prosecute Bell unless Degrate said that Bell's explanation wasn't true. Prosecutors have to prove intent even when there is a videotape.
posted by bperk at 07:29 AM on September 05, 2008
BornIcon - I didn't say that. I said I'm inclined believe his side of the story, which is that somebody told him to do it.
Maybe I'm wrong. My point is the he's not a gangster wannabe with a criminal past. Prior to this the worst you could say about him is the he fumbles too much. If the police find him guilty, so be it.
posted by drumdance at 02:23 PM on September 05, 2008
Tatum Bell is a scumbag. He was pissed because he got cut and blamed it on the guy they brought in to replace him.
Bit of circular reasoning, isn't that? Or did you have some other evidence to base that on?
posted by yerfatma at 02:52 PM on September 05, 2008
I think it's a reasonable supposition that the cut player might blame his replacement.
posted by irunfromclones at 12:45 AM on September 08, 2008
Wow. A bush league stunt like that will mar Tatum Bell's name for the rest of his NFL career, particularly with his teammates. Reminds me of Clint Longley punching Roger Staubach in the Cowboys' locker room when I was a kid.